Thieves rifle cars left unlocked in Taneytown

Thirteen residents in southeast Taneytown discovered early yesterday that their vehicles -- all unlocked -- had been rifled between midnight and 6 a.m.

Not everyone had property stolen, said police Chief Melvin Diggs, who began responding to complaints at the breakfast hour.

The thieves did get a pair of leather boots and a leather coat with $325 in a pocket from one victim on Pumpkin Drive, Diggs said. Vehicles on Morning Frost Street and Fairground Avenue also were entered, he said.

The vehicles were parked in driveways, where thieves will not often risk breaking a window because that would make too much noise, Diggs said.

"Just tell everyone to lock their cars," he said.

Fire

Taneytown: Firefighters from Kingsdale and Littlestown in Pennsylvania assisted Taneytown at 4: 07 p.m. Wednesday, responding to a brush fire on Route 194 at the state line. Units were out more than one hour.